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Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Dr. Lewis specializes in providing psychotherapy for children and adolescents, and is trained in the use of cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A), psychodynamic/insight-oriented therapy, supportive psychotherapy, family therapy, and play therapy techniques. Her work with youth is guided by a commitment to recognizing the unique needs and strengths of each child, as well as by a deep understanding of the developmental and environmental factors that influence children and adolescents.

The process of crafting a customized treatment plan begins with obtaining as much information as possible about your child during an intake appointment. This initial meeting typically entails a thorough review of your child’s developmental, family, academic, cultural, social, behavioral, and emotional history, and will often result in a working diagnosis that will provide a framework for interventions. Preliminary assessment and intervention sessions with your child will be devoted to establishing a sense of trust, rapport, and comfort with Dr. Lewis and within the therapy setting.

Depending on the nature of the issues that are of concern, and the context in which these issues are occurring, Dr. Lewis will then recommend and tailor an appropriate treatment plan that draws from intervention practices found to be most effective for addressing the issue at hand. In some cases, it may be determined that your child would also benefit from additional services such as psychoeducational or neuropsychological testing, family therapy, or group therapy. Furthermore, because your child exists within the larger contexts of family, school, and social settings, intervention in these areas may also be indicated in order to effect positive, lasting change. Regardless of the approach, however, parents are viewed as essential partners in their child’s treatment.

The span of therapy depends on an individual and family’s needs. Dr. Lewis values an active, collaborative, solution-focused, and goal-oriented treatment approach that is also sensitive to individual and family dynamics, and seeks to nurture the development of your child’s and your family’s “coping and problem-solving skill-set”.

Areas of treatment expertise for Dr. Lewis include:

  • Anxiety Disorders such as Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, School Refusal, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors such as Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, and Nail Biting
  • Mood Disorders such as Depression and Dysthymia
  • Behavior Management Challenges
  • Attention-Deficit Disorders, with or without Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD)
  • Adjustment Issues such as those associated with major life and family transitions
  • Emotion and Stress Management
  • Social Skills Development
  • Health-related and Medical Issues

Adult Psychotherapy

For treatment of adults, Dr. Lewis draws from her training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic/insight-oriented therapy, supportive psychotherapy, and systems-based approaches such as family therapy to help clients gain insight, understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, improve relationships, develop coping, communication, and problem-solving skills, and to enhance their quality of life.

The process of crafting a customized treatment plan begins with obtaining as much information as possible about you during an intake appointment. This initial meeting typically entails a thorough review of the nature of your current concerns, and relevant details of your life history, and will often result in a working diagnosis that will provide a framework for interventions. Depending on the concerns and the context in which they are occurring, Dr. Lewis will then recommend and tailor an appropriate treatment plan that draws from intervention practices found to be most effective for addressing the issue at hand.

Areas of treatment expertise for Dr. Lewis include:

  • Anxiety Disorders such as Phobias, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Mood Disorders such as Depression and Dysthymia
  • Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors such as Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, and Nail Biting
  • Adjustment Issues such as those associated with major life and family transitions
  • Parenting
  • Interpersonal Conflict and Relationships
  • Emotion and Stress Management

Family Therapy

Sometimes, it is most effective to address the concerns of individuals as they occur within the context of their family. In family therapy, the focus of treatment remains on the family unit. Dr. Lewis works with families to improve overall functioning, enhance relationships, manage stresses and conflicts, and develop positive communication and coping skills. Sessions will generally include either all family members or a combination of specific family members as needed to support progress towards identified and agreed upon treatment goals. Family therapy can be the modality of choice, or occur in addition to other treatments such as individual therapy.

If you have additional questions about any of the psychotherapy services that Dr. Lewis provides or you would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact her at (443) 249-3162.